Whoever said the Maldives were only for romantic couples on their honeymoon, were wrong. Forget Bali, Phuket, or Langkawi, nothing compares to the pristine beaches, clear blue waters, and “semi-isolation” that Maldives has to offer. So when my dad, my younger brother Chris, and I had a common opening in our schedules late last year, we made the adventurous decision to book a flight out to Male and unwind at The Residence Maldives.

The Residence Maldives houses 94 villas on their island of Falhumaafushi in the Gaafu Alifu Atoll. To get there, we had to take a domestic flight on Maldivian Air from Male to Kooddoo, followed by a short 10-minute speedboat transfer to the resort.

We checked into a stunning Two-Bedroom Water Pool Villa, which is the perfect option for families traveling together. It’s basically two bedrooms (with their own private bathrooms!) joined together with a living space and a pool that spans from one bedroom to another. My dad likes us all to be close to one another, so this villa was great – we could all still have our own private “me”-space within the confines of our mini home away from home. The pool deck also has direct access to the ocean – literally within 15 minutes of checking in, my dad and brother were already changed and jumping into the pool. Um, what happened to lunch guys?

Guys?

Post-snorkelling, we had lunch by the bar overlooking the pool at The Beach Bar. Meals are all supplied either on half or full board basis, so you can eat to your heart’s content. Other dining options include a beachfront experience at The Dining Room, or a fine-dining over-the-water alternative at The Falhu maa.

The rest of our stay was nothing short of wonderful: Every morning during sunrise, we descended the ladder of our pool deck to go snorkelling. Hungry after an hour or so out at sea, we will have breakfast at The Dining Room. Evenings called for a never-ending list of activities too. I would spend my time at Spa by Clarins while my dad and brother engaged in a water sport of their choice (i.e. Wind-surfing, kayaking, etc.). On our second night at The Residence, we took a sunset dolphin-watching boat ride out to sea!

All in all we had an amazing family vacation in the Maldives. Besides having access to the ocean just 5 steps away from their bedroom, I think my dad and brother loved how clear and clean the waters were. Understated luxury was another thing – I don’t think they have ever enjoyed such an experience before, and to be able to give them something they can remember forever makes me happy!

Thank you The Residence Maldives for having my family and I at your beautiful property. We’ll be back for sure!

I'm Andrea but you can call me Drea, I started this website with the intention of sharing my love for fashion, beauty and travel with all of you! There is more to this site, we have lifestyle-driven articles, some on wellness, fitness, tech, and decor, so go explore around! P.S. Some fun-facts about me: I can always be constantly seen cleaning, and I have too many scented candles for my own good.